The Venus Viva is the latest stable mate to the revolutionary Venus Freeze. Except this time the Venus Viva is a portable / desktop system for just the face and neck (as opposed to whole body). It is ideal for the salon/clinic/spa business to administer anti-ageing / skin tightening treatments to their patients looking for a fast, effective and non-invasive “facial”.

Jennifer says: “I am so pleased to offer my clients an affordable and non-invasive array of Venus Viva and “freeze facial” skin rejuvenation treatments. The Viva truly is a wonder of modern aesthetic technology… all proven and endorsed to work anti-ageing skin care. Come try the “Venus Freeze Facial” as used by many catwalk and film/tv stars.”

The Venus Viva offers a superior and affordable array of skin rejuvenation treatments using patented NanoFractional RF™ with SmartScan™ technology. The treatment is suitable for both men and women of all skin types. The versatile treatments for the face and neck include:

Get great results, whilst you simply relax! A Venus Treatment is fast and easy to apply. In just a few gentle 30 minute sessions you can have a more youthful look and glowing skin. Most patients are pleasantly surprised that a Venus treatment is actually warm and comfortable: like a hot stone massage. And it is true, some patients have fallen asleep during their treatment!

HAIRY? Who wants to be Hairy? Well removing unwanted hair is increasingly popular these days with women and increasingly men too. It can seem hair removal businesses, gadgets and treatments are cropping up as fast as the unwanted hairs themselves!

This article on Laser Hair Removal takes a look to see if it IPL is as good as it claims… How it works and is it permanent?

Laser Danger: CHOICE spoke to a range of experts, including dermatologists, and medical professionals who have highlighted the dangers involved in getting laser and IPL treatments, especially in an unregulated environment. ALWAYS CHECK your practitioner has a trusted and skilled work-force.

We sent a mystery shopper into a mix of beauty salons and walk-in clinics, and discovered that a number of laser and IPL operators are failing to give accurate advice, failing ask necessary questions, or provide adequate information about the training of staff.

What to look out for If you’re considering laser or IPL treatments, CHOICE has compiled a list of tips to help you make an informed decision.

The marketing hype will tell you that with a few sessions of laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) hair reduction, and some slight discomfort, you can be hair free forever. To anyone who has battled with unwanted facial or body hair this sounds like the perfect solution.

However, with the exceptions of Queensland, Tasmania and WA the laser industry is unregulated, and powerful medical lasers and IPLs are accessible to untrained and inexperienced personnel. Even in the states with some legislative controls, clinical application training isn’t covered.

» For more information on IPL Laser Hair Removal, London and a personal consultation you can contact the Kinightsbridge Laser Clinic in London. A centre of excellence in the heart of the UK capital, close to Harrods.

How does IPL Hair Removal Work?

Lasers and IPL (intense pulsed light) devices, (which are not technically lasers but work on a similar principal) offer a variety of skin treatments, not just hair removal such as removing spider veins, improving skin tone and to remove tattoos.

Permanent hair reduction involves the use of either a single wavelength of light (laser) or a flash of light containing hundreds of wavelengths (IPL or broadband light BBL). Melanin within the hair follicles is targeted, heating and damaging the follicles in an active growth cycle.

NOTE: Only hairs that have colour can be treated, so white and grey hairs won’t respond. The success of the treatment depends on your colouring, with laser generally working best on fair skin and dark hair.

Fairer skin and red hair will respond to a lesser degree and those with darker skin can be treated, but only with a great deal of care.

All the experts CHOICE spoke to agree that laser or IPL treatment, in the hands of an experienced and trained operator can be very effective. Melbourne dermatologist Dr Philip Bekhor says its the best way to remove unwanted hair, as long as you’re a “suitable candidate”.

Is IPL Hair Removal Permanent?

Many adverts claim that laser or IPL treatments can leave you permanently hair free. Sydney dermatologist Dr Phillip Artemi, says many operators have been quite loose with their definition of the word “permanent” in their advertising.

He says up to 20% of hair will continue to grow (albeit in a finer and slower way), and many hair follicles will recover from the laser injury over time. Dr Artemi says a better term for the procedures is “permanent hair reduction“. » Read here:

‘Intermittent Fasting’ to lose weight

The big diet “craze” of 2014 in trying to prevent weight gain is by intermittent fasting. Often referred to as The 5:2 Diet, on account that you “fast” for 2 days and feast for the other 5 days of the week. Here is a simple YouTube video to explain (by Kevin Partner).

The 5:2 premise them is to mix feasting and famine, literally. The most popular approach is the 5:2 Diet, a British export, discovered by Dr. Michael Mosley during a TV documentary on the subject. 5:2 mixes five days of normal eating per week with two days of restricted meals totalling between 500 and 600 calories (depending on whether you are a woman or a man).

Some folks swear by it. Others remain very sceptical. It’s so new that there hasn’t been a lot of research on humans, although animal studies, including some at the National Institute on Ageing indicate there may be some benefits, certainly in the short term, people doing 5:2 have not reported any serious side affects to this new weight-loss approach.

Critics, though, claim any weight loss is likely to be short-lived, and there are some concerns that repeated fasting could do a number on your metabolism. One primary care physician, Will Kimbrough, (One Medical Group), has said he believes fad diets aren’t the way to go. A balanced approach to diet and food is a better and safer way to prevent weight gain. “If you live making smart choices on a daily basis, then you don’t have to make up for those choices early in the new year,” he says.

That being said, he says a certain degree of self-discipline is involved. Tips for any weight loss diet:
– use a small plate at parties,
– load up on vegetables first,
– consider alternating glasses of water with drinks like beer and wine.

Learn more about 5:2 | Books and Recipes

Kate Harrison, a popular writer on the 5:2 Diet, has published books, videos and recipes about 5:2. She was one of the first to embrace social media/blogs to connect with her fans, answer common Q’s about the diet and share 5:2 recipes, ideas, tips and nurture support.

Kate has set-up a THE 5:2 DIET FACEBOOK GROUP which at the time of writing has about 34,000 members and rising!! It has become a daily read for many members embarking on this “WOE – Way of Eating” where they seek guidance and support. Many show their before and after shots.

Jacqui Palmer (Senior Skin Specialist) of Beau Synergy clinic describes how they use the Venus Freeze in anti-ageing treatments, facials and skin tightening.

Watch the video for Skin Tightening for Saggy Skin with Venus Freeze at Beau Synergy.
Real comments and feed back from existing client of ours. Skin clinic near Hatfield, Potters Bar and Welwyn. Perfect for skin tightening on face including jowls, forehead and eyes. Venus Freeze also works wonders on neck and arms as well reducing and removing Cellulite on legs and bum.

The Venus Freeze mimics a natural facelift and body contouring by combining multi-polar radio frequency and magnetic pulses into a technology called (MP)2. This unique combination allows the Venus Freeze to produce a heat matrix over the skin that triggers a natural healing response in the body. The activation of this healing response leads to the formation of new collagen, which, upon contraction, tightens the skin. This makes the Venus Freeze ideal for wrinkle reduction, skin tightening and cellulite reduction. Venus Freeze also tightens flabby saggy upper arms and loose chin and neck skin.

Renowned aesthetician, beauty expert and cosmetologist Bharti Taneja gives you a rundown on the varied techniques of hair removal. When it comes to unmatched beauty, nothing beats the feeling of silky smooth skin. The touch of soft skin gives a sense of sheer pleasure, which is unforgettable! And the easiest way to experience this bliss is through various methods of hair removal.

With time and technology, the process has become easy, quick and less painful. The latest hair removal methods not only help you get rid of those unwanted hair but also delay the hair growth. Let’s have a look….

Threading – One of the traditional ways of plucking out hair, it’s primarily used for upper lip, chin, forehead and eyebrows. This helps give more precision to the beautician (especially while shaping the brows), though it is a tedious and little painful process.

Things to remember – The beautician has to be careful and precise while doing the brows as one mistake can cause you dearly. You must stretch the skin properly to avoid cuts. A wet thread is softer and thus, pains less.

Hair removal creams – It is one of the easiest ways of hair removal. Since it’s painless, it is generally used for under arms and bikini areas. Though it’s the easiest method, it is not very effective in delaying hair growth. The hair starts growing the next day of hair removal. Also, its continuous use leads to skin darkening.

Things to remember – Always do a patch test behind the ears before using the cream. Also, it is advised not to use it on face. It’s advisable to use it occasionally only.

Waxing – The most popular way of hair removal across the world, waxing renews and rejuvenates the skin. Delay in hair re-growth, skin softening, dead skin removal, de-tanning are a few benefits of waxing that perpetuate its popularity. This monthly delight is quick, safe and easy on pockets too. It gives long lasting results and can be considered for the whole body hair removal. Basically, there are two kinds of waxes – hard and soft.

A. Hard wax – It comes with low melting point and thus, melts in minutes and is considered excellent for removing deep rooted hair. It is applied thickly in the direction of the hair and can be removed easily without the aid of paper or cloth strips. Heat it for a few minutes and apply on the desired area. Once it is cooled and slightly hardened, hold it from a tip and pull in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

It is ideal for face and bikini areas. Australian Red wax is considered the best among all hard waxes available in the market. The aromatic oil in this wax keeps it soft, and thus doesn’t hurt when you pull it off. It wonderfully delays the hair re-growth. You can re-use it fifty times but usually for the hygiene reasons its best not to re-use.

B. Soft wax – It is the most widely used wax across the globe. Cost effective, it is generally meant for larger areas. It is applied hot in the direction of the hair, and removed with the help of paper or cloth strips. However, make sure not to heat it too much as it can burn the skin. Test the heated wax on a small area before starting off.

Things to remember –

Before and after waxing, you should always clean the area to be waxed with wet towel and use pre and post anti-bacterial wax powder or gel on the skin before and after waxing respectively. This cuts out chances of any skin allergy.

Always use good quality wax for best results and hygiene. A good quality wax is the one that has low melting point, which allows the wax to melt quickly without getting too hot for the skin and spread smoothly.

Always apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth and pull the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

Cloth strips are out-dated now. Re-using them by washing and sanitizing is a long and tedious process and can lead to infection, if not used properly. Instead, use disposable paper strips which are handy, quick, easy to use and hygienic.

Laser technique – One of the most widely known techniques of permanent hair reduction, laser promises bright, smooth and silky skin in just few hours. Today, with the advancement of science and technology in skin care, we have a wide array of laser hair removal treatments that offer a wonderful experience in no time.

Things to remember – Better to use on smaller areas.

Intense Pulse Light treatment – The most advanced technique of all, IPL is considered as a popular choice. With a few sessions of intense pulse light ( laser hair removal IPL) in London, and zero discomfort, you can be almost hair free. For anyone who has battled with unwanted facial or body hair, this is the perfect solution. This treatment target the Melanin within the hair follicles, which is responsible for active growth cycle. Thus you get silky, smooth and illuminating skin in a couple of sessions.

Things to remember – Always consult an expert and go for a trusted brand for this treatment.